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Book Your Christmas Skillcation

Be sure of making your Christmas really special this year by coming on a Skillcation to the Isle of Wight and learning how to mix master cocktails, cook the best Christmas dinner and make pretty hand-made decorations to adorn your home and gifts for friends and family.

The George Hotel at Yarmouth have arranged an evening of cocktail making and fine dining at their Festive Cocktail Tasting Masterclass on Friday December 7th. Hosted by the talented team from The Isle of Wight Distillery, who produce the famous Mermaid Gin along with Rock Sea Vodka, HMS Victory Navy Strength Rum and new for this season their Isle of Wight Whisky. The team will be shaking and stirring seasonal cocktails to get you into the Christmas spirit, adding sparkle to at the Christmas party, a little pick me up for the morning after and a spectacular treat for New Year’s Eve.

The Masterclass and two course seasonal dinner is £35 per person, with arrival at 7pm for a 7.30pm sit down. To book call: 01983 760331

And if you’re down on the Thursday, the George is hosting the RNLI’s annual Christmas Spectacular at the hotel from 11am till 4pm, with Christmas stalls, carol singers, raffle, festive lunch, mulled wine and Father Christmas welcoming you at the door.

The Island’s most innovative and exciting chef, Robert Thompson, is giving two Cook Schools on how to make the perfect Festive Roast on December 13th and 14th, from his open kitchen at his popular restaurant in Newport.

You’ll get to learn how to produce the most delicious Christmas lunch from start to finish, with all the trimmings, to dazzle your friends and family on Christmas Day. Robert will guide you through from preparation to serving up in this demonstration that starts at 10.30am and concludes with lunch. The £79 per person fee includes welcome coffee, three course lunch and a glass of Prosecco or house wine.

Booking is essential and there is a vegetarian menu available, but you do need to advise of any dietary requirements & allergies on booking.

Discover your inner Christmas crafter at the Studio of Tiny Homes Holidays over the weekend of November 30th to December 2nd, making loads of different seasonal goodies to decorate your home.

On Saturday December 1st Mrs B will guide you through the relaxing process of making divine air-dry clay Christmas tree decorations or gift tags that make a natural and recyclable option to your festive decs. Then she’ll be teaching you how to make Christmas scented organic soya candles using a delicious selection of essential oils that invoke all those wonderful Christmas smells and you’ll make and decorate three of these environmentally friendly aromatherapy candles to take home with you.

Plus you’ll get to make natural pine cone fire lighters with essential oils to suit your taste - ideal for open fires, log burners and garden chimeras, these firelighters are completely natural and make a wonderful alternative to the toxic ones available in most high street shops.

On Sunday December 2nd, you add finishing touches to your air-dried clay decorations and tags before making fizzing scented bath bombs – all using natural ingredients.

Then you get to make a beautiful Christmas Wreath with Sharon Rhind – all from local natural materials that have all been sourced from nearby farmland, including a few of her air dried supplies.

The cost of this weekend, including all materials, the two day courses at their on-site studio that include tools and materials, light lunch and refreshments and three night’s accommodation in a Tiny Home with complimentary ‘simple but good’ breakfast supplies pack is £285 per person.

Quay Arts have a few Christmas crafting courses at their Jubilee Stores in the run up to the festivities, including making Christmas themed printed items, producing beaded Christmas trees, cutting and folding origami paper decorations and making a Christmas table decoration.

Christmas print day on Saturday November 10th will teach you how to produce simple linocuts to print a tote bag and personalised cards and gift bags and Christmas Crewel making Wednesday November 14th will teach you how to make delightful little beaded Christmas trees. On Saturday November 24th you will explore simple pleating and origami techniques to make your own elegant festive decorations to take home and on the morning of Saturday December 15th you can create a festive table design to enhance your dining table using natural materials, fresh flowers and candles.

All of these workshops cost between £40 and £50 and do have to be prebooked.